Halifa Sallah Urges Wuli Voters to Put Ideas Above Emotions Ahead of December Election

By Makutu Manneh

Halifa Sallah, veteran Gambian politician and one of the architects of the Team Gambia Grand Coalition 2026, has urged residents of Wuli to make informed electoral choices based on ideas and policies rather than emotions or political loyalties.

Speaking at a coalition meeting in Wuli, Sallah emphasized that voting is an exercise of citizens’ sovereign power, warning that electing leaders without carefully assessing their policies and commitments could have far-reaching consequences for the country.

“Voting for someone means you have taken your power and voice as a citizen and lent it to the person you elected,” Sallah said.

He explained that elected leaders are entrusted with enormous authority, including control over public resources and the country’s security institutions, making it essential for citizens to understand the responsibilities that come with their votes.

Sallah urged voters to reflect on whether those they elect exercise that authority in their interests, arguing that citizens must recognize the connection between their electoral decisions and the quality of governance they receive.

He stressed that a vote represents both power and a voice in national affairs and should be entrusted to candidates on the strength of their ideas, rather than emotional attachments or partisan considerations.

Reflecting on The Gambia’s political history, Sallah said the formation of Team Gambia Grand Coalition 2026 was driven by the need for collective action to address the country’s challenges.

He recalled that the 2016 presidential election marked the first time since independence that Gambians had voted an incumbent government out of power, describing the historic transition as the result of cooperation among political parties and other stakeholders rather than the efforts of any single party.

Sallah rejected claims that one political party was solely responsible for the 2016 change of government, pointing out that United Democratic Party leader Ousainu Darboe was imprisoned during the election period.

He maintained that attributing the victory to a single party misrepresented the collective effort that made the political transition possible.

Turning to the country’s current challenges, Sallah appealed to Gambians to place national interests above partisan differences, arguing that genuine patriotism requires citizens to act when their country faces difficulties.

He said those who genuinely care about The Gambia cannot stand by while the country faces mounting challenges without making an effort to address them.

Sallah further argued that changing governments would have little meaning unless ordinary Gambians gained greater control over their political power and national wealth, enabling them to overcome poverty and improve their living conditions.

He said that principle forms part of the shared vision underpinning Team Gambia Grand Coalition 2026, which seeks to unite Gambians around meaningful political and economic change.